Apparatus for generating motive fluid for automobile torpedoes.



I "Ml m I I I Q I n.

G G. DAVISON. APPARATUS FOR GENERATING MOTIVE FLUID FOR AUTOMOBILETORPEDOBS.

APPLICATION FILED MAI l. 29, 1909. 1,036,080. Patented Aug. 20, 1912.

2 SHEET8SHEET 1.

I I 1.: II I I H M I I,

lllll/l Q Y" I E c I X f E k H :1 I I g; PI Q} I I I (J J m I WITNESSESATmRN Ys G. G. DAVISUN. APPARATUS FOR GENERATING MOTIVE FLUID FORAUTOMOBILE TOBPBDOES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29, 1909. 1,036,080.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

BY %flz/% A ATTORNEYS re STATES PATENT rice.

GREGORY CALDWELL DAVISON, F QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB T0 ELECTRICBOAT COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOBGENERATING MOTI'VE FLUID FOR AUTOMOBILE TOBPE'DOES.

1,036,080. Specification of Letters Patent. P t t d Aug. 20, 1912Application filed March 29, 1909. Serial No. 486,455.

To all whom it may concern: body of the torpedo in the customary way;

Be it known that I, GREGORY C. DAVISON, and the fuel is contained in atank'b, which a citizen of the United States, residing at is likewiseformed by partitioning off a Quincy, in the county of Norfolk, State ofportion of the body of the torpedo. A take- Massac-husetts, haveinvented certain new ofi' pipe 0 leads from the tank a to and and usefulImprovements in Apparatus for through reducing valve d, which is of theGenerating Motive Fluid for Automobile type commonly used in torpedoesof this Torpedoes; and I do hereby declare the class and is adapted tobe opened automatifollowing to be a full, clear, and exact decally whenthe torpedo is launched. From scription of the invention, such as willenhere the oxygen-carrier flows at a reduced able others skilled in theart to which it pressure through the pipe e to the generator appertainsto make and use the same. f, within which it is intended that the mixedIn the operation of automobile (or selffuel and oxygen-carrier shall beburned, an propelled) torpedoes, it would be of great charged with watervapor. The construcadvantage to substitute for the compressed tion ofthe generator 7 will be understood air commonly used as a motive fluid,a mofrom Fig. 2, from which it will be seen that tive fluid derived byburning a suitable fuel the generator comprises a strong cylindricalwith compressed air or oxygen and then tank with rounded ends made intwo parts injecting into the highly heated products of f and F. Thelower portion f has tapped combustion a quantity of water, whereby theinto it at the bottom the take-0E pipe 9 water is converted into steam,adding to the leading to the engine, and the take-off pipe volume of thefluid and reducing its tem- 71' of considerably smaller capacity leadingperature. In this way there may be formed to the pump. The upper part fof the gena motive fluid under extremely high preserator has tapped intoit centrally at the sure and at moderate temperature, which is top thecompound nozzle. This nozzle com- 0 admirably adapted to the operationof the prises an outer threaded sleeve 6, into which light, high-speed,powerful engines which the water pipe 70 leads, and which terminates areused on such torpedoes; and a very high within the cylinder in aspraying-head Z, degree of efliciency of energy transformahavingspray-holes adapted to discharge the tion may be secured; provided anapparatus water tangentially against the upper end of can be devisedwhich is of the requisite simthe cylinder to set up a circumferential orplicity in construction and regulation, so whirling motion; anintermediate sleeve m that it may be used without danger and with withwhich is connected the pipe 6 containthe assurance that it will be in"operative ing the oxygen-carrier; and a central nozzle conditionwhenever it may becalle'd upon n for the fuel, said nozzle n terminatingin to do its Work. a rounded headn having spray-holes as It is theobject of the present invention to shown. Secured to the waterspray-head Z provide an apparatus suitable for that purand separatingthe water spray from the pose, and the particular nature and princifueland oxygen-carrier is the dome-shaped ples of operation of'the meansemployed to hood 0 extending well down into the body that end will beunderstood from a conof'the cylinder, the object of the hood beingsideration of the following description-and to prevent the injection ofwater into the the accompanying-drawings. mixed fuel and oxygen-carrierbefore the In the drawings, Figure 1 is a central vercombustion iscomplete. It will be undertical section of a portion of a torpedoshowstood that the water sprayed from the head ing the apparatus of myinvention in eleva- Z will flow down over the heated hood 0 tion. Fig. 2is a central vertical section of and the water vapor will mix with thethe generator in which the motive fluid is products of combustion in thelower portion produced; Fig. 3 is a central vertical section of thegenerating chamber. For starting of the regulator, and Fig. 4: is asectional combustion within the generatorI providea plan of the same onthe line 4-4 of Fig. 3. device which is automatically actuated as Theoxygen-carrier, preferably air or oxysoon as the oxygen-carrier underpressure is gen, under pressure, is contained in a-tank a, admitted intothe generating chamber. For which, in the construction illustrated, isthis purpose, I have'adopted a known conformed by partitioning of? aportion of the struction of ignition device and have so 10- 11containing an ignition fuse I a percussion cap 9,

' that th cated it that it is in communication with the generatingchamber at the upper portion of the hood 0 in proximity to the compoundnozzle. ceptacle 7), in which slides a fuse carrier 9 and carrying andcapable of sliding up the bore of the receptacle p into contact With thefiring projection 1'. This firing project-ion has a central passage forthe escape of the air within receptacle 7; when the ignition fuse risestherein, such air passing through the central passage in firingprojection 1' and through the spring-pressed check-valve 7". Uponadmission of the oxygen-carrier under pressure to the generating chamberf through the pipe 6 and sleeve m the fuse-carrier is forced up the boreof receptacle 72 until percussion cap g strikes firing projection r andthe fuse isignited. A slow burning fuse is preferably used so that thecombustible mixture which has formed in the generating chamber willsurely be ignited. The manner in which the fuel and water are fed to thegenerating chamber will be further described hereafter.

From the generating chamber the products of combustion are led, on theone hand, through the pipe 9 to the engines 8, and on the other hand,through the pipe h to the pump t. This pump is connected with the waterat t, and with the regulator u at w. The construction of this regulatorwill. be understood from Figs. 3 and 4, from which it will be seen thatit comprises a casing divided into an upper and lower chamber by aflexible diaphragm to, which diaphragm carries an adjustable slottedstem '0 actuating the double-seated balanced valve '10, which controlsthe inlet passage from the pipe w leading from the delivery side of thepump. Into the lower portion of the lower chamber of the regulator isalso tapped the outlet pipe t leading to the lower portion of the fueltank 6 and the outlet pipe is leading to the water nozzle. Into theupper part of the regulator above the flexible dia.-' phragm is tappedthe pipe 6 branching from the pipe e and containing the oxygencarrlerunder pressure. From the upper part of the fuel tank 6 there extends tothe fuel nozzle n, a fuel pipe 3 With this construction and arrangement'of parts the pressure of the oxygen-carrier in the pipe e on the lowpressure side of the reducing valve (1 controls absolutely the pressureon the fuel and the pressure on the water supply to the generatingchamber, so e oxygen-carrier, the fuel and the water are fed always at apredetermined pressure to the generating chamber, and if, for anyreason, the supply of oxygen-carrier is cut off or exhausted, the supplyof fuel and water to the generating chamber.

will cease at once, while, as long as there is This device comprises are through the nozzle n there forming an explosive or combustible.

a supply of oxygen-carrier under pressure and the flow .of water intothe regulator chamber is not interrupted, the supply of fuel and waterto the generating chamber will continue under proper control. Furthermo-re, by this arrangement the fuel in the fuel tank, as it iswithdrawn, is replaced by water, which, of course, remains at the bottomof the tank. This prevents a possibility of the admission of air oroxygen into the fuel tank. and the formation therein of an explosivemixture. But a single pump is necessary to feed both the fuel and thewater and it is made certain that the fuel and the water will be fedunder the same pressure and will both be controlled by the pressure ofthe oxygen-carrier. This dependence of the fuel supply upon the watersupply, and their mutual dependence upon the single pump and thepressure of the oxygen-carrier, is of further advantage in that it isimpossible that the water supply should be stopped'and the fuel supplycontinued, thereby creating unduly high temperatures in the generatingchamber and engine. Furthermore, it will be observed, the arrangement issuch, that if, for any reason, such as the breaking down of the waterpump, the flow of water into the regulator chamber is interrupted, thesupply of fuelv will immediately cease, thus brlnging the com bustion toan end and preventing unduly high temperatures; but, nevertheless, theair or oxygen under pressure will continue to flow from the storage tankthrough the combustion chamber to the engine, and the torpedo willcontinue to be driven until the supply of oxygen-carrier under pressureis I exhausted.

The operation of the system as a whole is as follows: When the torpedois launched the valve d is opened automatically and the oxygen-carrierat the predetermined pressure is admitted to the upper portion of thegenerating chamber through the pipe m. The pressure thus produced in thegenerating chamber forces the fuse-carrier up the bore of receptacle pagainst the firing projection and ignites the fuse. The fuse contains aslow burning composition preferably one which will burn for severalseconds, and before it is burned out, the pump, actuated initially bythe oxygen-carrier passing through pipe in, will force fuel into thegenerator,

mixture which will be ignited by the fuse. At the same time,

or substantially the same time, that the fuel is admitted, jets ofwaterwill be thrown with a circlunferential or whirling motion from thesprayer head Z into the space between the hood 0 and the body of theenerator, and as the hood heats up and the ot products'of combustionaccumulate the water will be vaporized and interfere with thecombustion.

' fluid for automobile mixed with the products of combustion, but byreason of the interposition of the hood 0 the combustion will becomplete before the mixture takes place so that the water cannot Themixed products of combustion and Water vapor in the lower portion of thegenerator pass through the pipe 9 to the engine and through the pipe hto the pump.

In the pipe 9 between the generating chamber and the engine, -I preferto place a safety valve a,and in the pipes e, is and 3 check-valves b,0' and d are interposed to prevent a back flow due to a sudden highpressure in the generator.

The above described arrangement of parts provides an operative systemfor automobile torpedoes which is simple, self-starting, selfregulating,and well protected against accidents. 7

What I claim is p 1. In apparatus for generating motive torpedoes, agenerating an oxygen-carrier and of comchamber in which fuel are burnedand the products bustion mixed with water vapor, a tank for anoxygen-carrier under pressure, a water supply, a fuel supply, anauxiliary source of ressure for the water and fuel supply, a conduitleading from the oxygen-carrier tank to the combustion chamber, a secondconduit through which the pressure of the oxygen-carrier is applied toregulate the pressure of the fuel and water supply, valve mechanismcontrolling said conduits, connections through which the fuel and watermay freely pass under the pressure of the oxygen-carrier into thegenerating chamber, and a connection from the combustion chamber to thedriving engine of the torpedo,

whereby the flow of water and fuel feed to the generator depends at alltimes upon and is regulated by the pressure of the oxygencarrier, butthe flow of the oxygen-carrier is independent of the water and fuelsupply.

2. In an automobile torpedo, motive fluid generating apparatuscomprising a tank for storing an oxygen-carrier under pressure, acombustion chamber having an outlet conduit leading-to the drivingengine, and a conduit extending from the storage tank to the combustionchamber, the said elements constituting a power system in which thestored oxygen-carrier may flow from the storage tank through thecombustion chamber to the engine to operate it; in combination. withmeans for supplying a combustible and water to the combustion chamber,and means for discontinuing the combustible supply upon failure of thewater supply, without interrupting the flow of oxygen carrier to andthrough the combustion chamber and thence to the engine.

3. In apparatus for generating motive fluid for automobile torpedoes atank for storing an oxygen-carrier under pressure, a water pump, and asource of fuel supply, a combustion chamber, a supply conduit from theoxygen-carrier tank to the combustion chamber, a driving engine, aconduit from the combustion chamber to the engine, a

conduit from the water pump to the com- :bustion chamber, a conduit fromthe fuel I supply to the combustion chamber and a connection throughwhich the pressure on the water supply is applied to the fuel. supply;substantially as described.

4. In apparatus for generating motive fluid for automobile torpedoes atank for storing an oxygen-carrier under pressure, a water pump,'and asource of fuel supply, a combustion chamber, a supply conduit from theoxygen-carrier tank to the combustion chamber, a driving engine, aconduit from the combustion chamber to the engine, a conduit from thewater ump to the combustion chamber, a conduit rom the fuel supply tothe combustion chamber, a connection through which the pressure on thewater supply is applied to the fuel supply, and a connection throughwhich the pressure 0 the oxygen-carrier is applied to regulate thepressure of the fuel and water supply; substantially as described.

5. In apparatus for generating motive fluid for automobile torpedoes, agenerating chamber in which an oxygen-carrier and fuel are burned andthe products of combustion mixed with water vapor, a water supply and afuel supply, means for injecting the water and fuel into the generatingchamber, a supply of oxygen-carrier under pressure, and a regulatorcontrolled by the pressure of the oxygen-carrier and controlling thewater and fuel supply.

6. In apparatus for generating motive fluid for automobile torpedoes, agenerating chamber in which an oxygen-carrier and fuel are burned andthe products of combustion mixed with water vapor, a source 0 watersupply under pressure for injecting water into the products ofcombustion, a fuel tank connected to the generating chamber, connectionsfrom the source of water supply to the fuel tank, a supply ofoxygencarrier under pressure, and a regulator controlled by the pressureof the oxygen-carrier for regulating the flow of water from the sourceof water supply to the generating chamber and fuel tank.

7. In apparatus for generating motive fluid for automobile torpedoes, agenerating chamber in which an oxygen-carrier and fuel are burned andthe products of combustion mixed with water vapor, a source of watersupply under pressure for injecting water into the products ofcombustion, a fuel tank connected to the generating chamber, connectionsfrom the source of water. supply to the fuel tank, a supply ofoxygenfluid for carrier under pressure, and a regulator interposed inthe connections from the source of water supply to the generatingchamber and fuel tank for regulating the flow of water from the saidsource, said regulator comprising a casing, a flexible diaphragmdividing the casing into two chambers, with one of which chambers theinlet from the source of water supply and the outlet to the generatingchamber and the fuel tank communicate, a valve connected to thediaphragm and controlling the inlet from the source of water-supply, andconnections for to the other chamber of the regulator casing.

8. In apparatus for generating motive fluid for automobile torpedoes, ageneratin chamber in which an oxygen-carrier and fuel are burned and theproducts of combustion mixed with Water vapor, inlet devices for thefuel and o-xygen arrier, a dome-shaped hood about said devices, and awater spray-head arranged to spray Water on the outside of said hood; r

9. In apparatus for generating motive automobile torpedoes, a generatinchamber in which an oxygen-carrier and fuel are burned and the productsof com- I bustion mixed with Water vapor, inlet devices for the fuel andoxygen carrier at the upper part of the generating chamber, a hoodoverhanging said inlet devices, and a water spray-head for-directingjets of water on the outside of said hoo 10. In apparatus for fluid forautomobile torpedoes, a generating chamber having a dome-shaped upperend and inwhich an oxygen-carrier and fuel are burned and the productsof combustion mixed with water vapor,=-i nlet devices for the fuel andoxygen-carrier at the upper partof the generating chamber, a hoodoverhan ing said inlet vdevices and substantially con orming in shape tothe vdome-shaped upper end of the generating chamber and a centrallylocated water spray-head between the end of the chamber and the hood fordirecting :jets of water on the outside of said hood.

11. In apparatus for generating motive fluid for automobile torpedoes, atank for" 'an oxygen-carrier under pressure, a fuel tank, a generatingchamber, a regulator -casmg, a pump, and a fluid-operated motor,connections extending from the oxygen-carrier tank and from the fueltank to the generating chamber, whereby the oxygen-carrier and fuel areadmitted to the generating chamber to be burned therein, connectionsgenerating motive extending from the generating chamber to the fluidactuated motor and to the pump, whereby the products of combustion areled to the motor and pump to actuate the same, connections extendingfrom the pump to the regulator casing and from the regulator cas- "ingto the fuel tank and to the generating chamber, a branch connectionextending from the oxygen-carrier connections to the regulator casing,and mechanism within the regulator casing and actuated by the pres-.sure of the oxy ell-carrier for controlling the inlet from th admittingthe oxygen-carrier under pressure 1 Qfluid for automobile torpedoes, agenerating e pump. 12. In apparatus for generating motive chamber inwhich an oxygen-carrier and Ffuel are burned and the products ofcombusition mixed with water vapor, a tank for an oxygen-carrier underpressure, a water supply, a fuel supply, a conduit leading from theoxygen-carrier tank to the combustion !chamber, a second conduit throughwhich the pressure of the oxygen-carrier is applied to the water supply,valve mechanism icontrolling said conduitspa eonduit leading ;from thewater supply to -the fuel supply, and connections through which the fueland water may freely pass under the pressure of the oxygen-carrier intothe generating chamber, whereby the water, and fuel feed ito thegenerator, depends at all times upon the pressure of the oxygencarrier,and the feed of fuel is dependent upon the pressure 0f the water supply.p

13. In apparatus for generating mot ve fluid for automobile torpedoes, ageneratmg chamber in which an oxygen ca'rrier and fuel are vburnedand'the products of combus- ;,tion mixed with water vapor, a tank for anoxygen-carrier undeu pressure, a conduit including a controlvalvethrough whlch the @oxygen-carrier may pass to the generatlngchamber whenever the control valve 1s open, a water supply, a fuelsupply, a second conduit likewise controlled by said valve and *throughwhich the pressure of the oxygen carrier-is applied tothe fuel and watersupply, and conduits through which the fuel iand water may freely pass,under such pres- :sure, into the generating chamber, whereby -the waterand fuel feed depends at all times upon the pressure of theoxygen-carrier.

' In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

- GREGORY CALDWELL DAVISONr Witnesses: F.-L. BRAKE, W. D. FESLER.

